Method and apparatus for providing service

PRIORITY

0001This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/631,161, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0098937, filed on Sep. 29, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00021. Field of the Invention

0003The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing a service, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing differentiated services to a terminal that has received a signal from a wireless transmitter/receiver.

00042. Description of the Related Art

0005In order to provide wireless communication services, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point is installed. WLAN is a near field communication network within a predetermined distance from an installation location of an Access Point (AP), which is a wireless transmitter/receiver. One such commonly used technique is Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi).

0006As sales of mobile devices involving a lot of information traffic, such as smartphones, tablet Personal Computers (PCs), mobile PCs, etc., are increasing worldwide, production of Wi-Fi devices is rapidly increasing every year. In order to accommodate this trend, wireless APs (and/or another wireless transmitters/receivers) for sending wireless signals, (e.g., a beacon) are being installed in many locations.

0007Current wireless transmitters/receivers provide wireless transmitter/receiver services to mobile devices that are within a vicinity of the transmitters/receivers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0008The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing differentiated services to a terminal according to a signal intensity of a signal that is sent from a wireless transmitter/receiver and received by the terminal.

0009According to an aspect of the present invention, a mobile device is provided. The mobile device includes a communication unit configured to receive a signal that is emitted from a beacon apparatus, wherein the mobile device is located within vicinity of the beacon apparatus; and a controller configured to determine an intensity of the received signal, and request a service providing apparatus for a service based on the determined intensity, wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive the service from the service providing apparatus.

0010According to another aspect of the present invention, a method performed by the mobile device for receiving a service from a service providing apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving a signal which is emitted from the beacon apparatus, wherein the mobile device is located within vicinity of the beacon apparatus; determining an intensity of the received signal; requesting the service providing apparatus for a service based on the determined intensity; and receiving the service from the service providing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0011The above and other aspect, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a service according to an embodiment of the present invention;

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a table showing differentiated services stored in a content storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a scenario of a differentiated service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

0017The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a detailed explanation of known related functions and constitutions may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a location-based service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0019Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the location-based service providing system includes a terminal <b>110</b> and a server <b>120</b>; the terminal <b>110</b> includes a positioning module <b>111</b> and a mobile communication module <b>112</b>, and the server <b>120</b> includes a platform module <b>121</b> and an application module <b>122</b>.

0020The positioning module <b>111</b> checks a location of the terminal <b>110</b>, by using techniques such as cell IDentification (ID) determination, enhanced cell ID determination, triangulation such as Angle of Arrival (AoA), Time of Arrival (ToA), Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA), and/or technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Assisted GPS (AGPS), Differentiated GPS (DGPS) or Wireless Fidelity (WiFi). However, these positioning examples are non-limiting, and other such techniques may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

0021The mobile communication module <b>112</b> performs communication between the terminal <b>110</b> and the server <b>120</b>. Mobile communication techniques used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include Code Division Multiple Access (CMDA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and Personal Communication Service (PCS). Additional mobile communication techniques related to near field communication in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include WiFi and Bluetooth communications. However, these mobile communication techniques are non-limiting examples, and other such mobile communication techniques may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

0022The platform module <b>121</b> may include technologies such as server architecture, storage, indexing, open Application Programming Interface (API), and security technologies. The server architecture technology is a location-based processing technology based on location-based functions such as obtaining a location from a location obtaining server in response to a terminal-side location information request, management of location information and processing of personal or collective location information, tracing of movement paths, etc. Herein, storage technology refers to a technology for storing a large amount of information and managing the same. Indexing technology may refer to a technology for systemizing location information or its relevant information in optimized forms and configuring the same such that the information may be searched easily. Open API technology refers to a technology for connecting other service providers to provide location information and relevant information. Security technology refers to a technology for controlling access of users such as user profile management, authorization, or security. The structure of the platform module <b>121</b> as illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is provided an example, and embodiments of the present invention is not limited thereto.

0023The application module <b>122</b> includes applications with which location-based services are provided to the terminal <b>110</b>. Examples of applications included within the application module <b>122</b> include map, navigation, information, commerce, health care, tracing, advertizing, entertainment, and health and safety applications. However, other such applications may be included within the application module <b>122</b> in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0025Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, in step <b>210</b>, when a terminal enters a vicinity of a wireless transmitter/receiver, a service providing apparatus receives, from the terminal, information about the wireless transmitter/receiver. The vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver may be an area in which the wireless transmitter/receiver can communicate with a terminal. The terminal receives a signal including unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver broadcast by the wireless transmitter/receiver and address information of a server for services to the terminal. According to the present example according to embodiment of the present invention, the wireless transmitter/receiver may be a beacon or an AP. In the current embodiment, the unique information of a wireless transmitter/receiver may include at least one of a Media Access Control (MAC) address, a Service Set IDentifier (SSID), and a Basic Service Set IDentifier (BSSID). When receiving a signal from the wireless transmitter/receiver, the terminal detects a reception intensity of the received signal. Reception intensity may be in the form of a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI).

0026Thereafter, the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver including the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver and reception intensity is transmitted to the service providing apparatus. Also, the terminal may transmit IDentification (ID) information of the terminal to the service providing apparatus, and when receiving the ID of the terminal, the service providing apparatus stores the same. If it is possible to calculate a distance from the terminal to the wireless transmitter/receiver according to signal intensity, the terminal may transmit information indicating the calculated distance.

0027In step <b>220</b>, the service providing apparatus determines differentiated services according to information about the wireless transmitter/receiver. The service providing apparatus determines differentiated services according to the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver and/or signal intensity included in the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver. The signal intensity is reference information based on which a distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver and the terminal may be calculated. Accordingly, the service providing apparatus provides differentiated services to the terminal according to the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver and the terminal. Therefore, the terminal may receive, not just a simple service, but differentiated services according the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver and the terminal. Services may include information such as contents or service Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). Other such information and/or services may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

0028<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a table <b>300</b> showing differentiated services stored in a content storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0029Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the table <b>300</b> includes an RSSI field <b>310</b>, which indicates signal intensity, and a service item field <b>320</b> showing services to be provided according to the signal intensity. For example, when a signal intensity of a signal received by the service providing apparatus is −80 [dBm], n is −120&lt;n&lt;−60[dBm] (see <b>302</b>), and therefore, a service to be provided in this case is ‘Contents A-1.’ If a signal intensity of a signal received by the service providing apparatus is −20 [dBm], n is −60&lt;n [dBm] (see <b>301</b>), and therefore, a service to be provided in this case is ‘Contents A-0.’

0030If the service providing apparatus receives distance information directly from the terminal, differentiated services may be provided to the terminal according to distance information.

0031In step <b>240</b>, the service providing apparatus provides the determined services, to the terminal. The service providing apparatus may provide a service directly to the terminal according to ID of the terminal, or the service providing apparatus may provide the service to the terminal via a wireless transmitter/receiver based on unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver.

0032Alternatively, if the ID of the terminal that has received a service according to the method of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is stored in the service providing apparatus, differentiated services may also be provided by the service providing apparatus even when the terminal has not entered the vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver.

0033<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a scenario of a differentiated service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0034Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, a first terminal <b>421</b>, a second terminal <b>422</b>, a third terminal <b>423</b>, and a fourth terminal <b>424</b> receive an SSID, a MAC address, and/or an other address of a server <b>430</b>. The first terminal <b>421</b>, the second terminal <b>422</b>, the third terminal <b>423</b>, and the fourth terminal <b>424</b> measure the RSSI of signals received from an AP <b>410</b>. Signal intensities of the signals received by the first terminal <b>421</b>, the second terminal <b>422</b>, the third terminal <b>423</b>, and the fourth terminal <b>424</b> are −60 [dBm], −120 [dBm], −180 [dBm], and −200 [dBm], respectively. The first terminal <b>421</b>, the second terminal <b>422</b>, the third terminal <b>423</b> and the fourth terminal <b>424</b> transmit the SSID or MAC address received from AP <b>410</b>, the measured RSSI, and IDs of the first through fourth terminals <b>421</b> through <b>424</b> to the servicer <b>430</b> according to the received server address. After transmitting this information, the server <b>430</b> provides differentiated services, that is, Contents A-0, Contents A-1, Contents A-2, and Contents A-3 to the first terminal <b>421</b>, the second terminal <b>422</b>, the third terminal <b>423</b>, and the fourth terminal <b>424</b>. A fifth terminal <b>425</b>, which has previously received a service from the server <b>430</b>, may subsequently receive services from the server <b>430</b> even when the fifth terminal <b>425</b> is not in the vicinity of the AP <b>410</b>.

0035Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, a solid line arrow <b>401</b> denotes information being transmitted from a terminal to the server <b>430</b>, and a dotted line arrow <b>402</b> denotes a service provided from the server <b>430</b> to a terminal.

0036<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a service providing apparatus <b>530</b> according to an embodiment of the present invention.

0037Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the service providing apparatus <b>530</b> includes a communication unit <b>532</b>, a control unit <b>534</b>, and a storage unit <b>536</b>. The service providing apparatus <b>530</b> is connected to a terminal <b>520</b> via a predetermined network. Also, the service providing apparatus <b>530</b> may be connected to a wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> via a predetermined network.

0038The communication unit <b>532</b> receives, from the terminal <b>520</b>, information about the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> which the terminal entered the vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b>. The terminal <b>520</b> receives a signal including unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> broadcast by the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> and address information of a server that is to provide a service, that is, of a service providing apparatus. According to the current example according to an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> may be a beacon or an AP. In the current example, unique information of a wireless transmitter/receiver may include at least one of a MAC address, an SSID, and a BSSID. When receiving a signal from the wireless transmitter/receiver, the terminal <b>520</b> detects a reception intensity of the received signal. Reception intensity may be reported in the form of an RSSI. After the reception intensity is detected, the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b>, including the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> and reception intensity, is transmitted to the service providing apparatus <b>530</b>. The terminal <b>520</b> may also transmit ID of the terminal <b>520</b> to the service providing apparatus <b>530</b>, and when receiving the ID of the terminal <b>520</b>, the control unit <b>534</b> stores the received ID. If it is possible to calculate a distance from the terminal <b>520</b> to the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> according to signal intensity, the terminal <b>520</b> may transmit information indicating the calculated distance.

0039The control unit <b>534</b> determines differentiated services according to information about the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b>. The control unit <b>534</b> determines differentiated services according to the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> and/or signal intensity included in the information about the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b>. The signal intensity is reference information based on which a distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> and the terminal <b>520</b> may be calculated. Accordingly, the service providing apparatus <b>530</b> provides differentiated services to the terminal <b>520</b> according to the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> and the terminal <b>520</b>. In the current example, the terminal <b>520</b> may receive, not just a simple service, but differentiated services according the distance between the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> and to the terminal <b>520</b>. Services may include contents and/or a service URL. However, these services are merely listed as examples, and other services may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

0040The services provided according to the distance may be provided according to the table <b>300</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, in a manner similar to that explained herein with reference to the operations corresponding to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0041If the communication unit <b>532</b> receives distance information directly from the terminal <b>520</b>, the control unit <b>534</b> provides differentiated services to the terminal <b>520</b> according to distance information.

0042The control unit <b>534</b> may provide a service directly to the terminal <b>520</b> according to ID of the terminal <b>520</b> or provide a service to the terminal <b>520</b> via the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b> based on the unique information of the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b>.

0043Alternatively, if the terminal <b>520</b> has previously received a service as described herein above, the ID of the terminal <b>520</b> is stored in the storage unit <b>536</b>, and the control unit <b>534</b> may provide differentiated services even when the terminal <b>520</b> is not within the vicinity of the wireless transmitter/receiver <b>510</b>.

0044The embodiments of the present invention may include computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. Such a computer readable recording medium may include any data storage device that can store data that can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of such a computer readable recording medium include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), Compact Disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc. Such a computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Functional programs, codes, and/or code segments, which may be used in implementing embodiments of the present invention, can be easily construed by programmers of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

0045While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. The embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.